If your ball goes into a lateral hazard in golf with RED stakes. How would one go about taking a drop?

Question

I caddied today in a 4-day member guest at a country club. The members were trying to feed me that you can only take 2 club lengths from the point of entry. I could've sworn you can go as far back as you want from the line it went in as long as you're not going closer to the hole.

Answer 1

Technically, they are both right. You can take two clubs lengths no closer to the hole or you can go back as far as you want from the point of entry. They are both one stroke penalty.

Answer 2

Red is a later hazard. Your choices are:

1. Go back to where you hit from (stroke and distance).

2. Two club lengths from the point where it last crossed the margin of the hazard.

3. On the other side of the hazard at the same distance from the hole as the spot where the ball crossed the margin.

4. Imagine a line that starts at the hole, passes through where your ball crossed the margin of the hazard and goes on forever. Drop anywhere on that line, as far back as you want. (But of course, not closer to the hole.)

You can't drop on the "line of flight".

Answer 3

You can go as far back from the point of entry that you'd like to. The members are wrong!